The third adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos classic novel Les Liasons Dangereuses, Milos Formans Valmont was released one year after Stephen Frears more famous version of the de Laclos original, Dangerous Liaisons. The plot remains the same: two debauched, depraved 18th century French aristocrats, the Vicomte de Valmont (Colin Firth) and the Marquise de Merteuil (Annette Bening), conspire to destroy several innocent lives, just for the fun of it. But whereas Stephen Frears concentrated on the machinations of the marquise, Forman, per his films title, devotes most of his screen space to Valmont (played in the Frears version by John Malkovich). In fact, Formans film concludes with Valmonts conscience-stricken renunciation of his past sins, and his duel to the death, rather than de Meurteils well-deserved comeuppance. Forman has chosen to set the story back some 50 years, de-emphasizing the opulence that was vital to Frears vision; he has also utilized a younger cast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide